Bringing cheaper Gurgaon booze into Delhi could land you in jail

Here's a word of caution for Delhiites who bring cheaper liquor from neighbouring Gurgaon. Those caught in the surprise checks by the Delhi government's excise department could land up in jail.

Tightening the noose around people who bring alcohol from neighbouring areas into the Capital, the excise department has categorically stated that not only is it illegal to bring in alcohol in any quantity from these areas, it could also lead to immediate arrest.

Sneaking in

In a drive carried out by the excise intelligence bureau in the last week of April, 14 people had been arrested and 11 cases registered for trying to bring in alcohol from Gurgaon to Delhi.

Procuring liquor in Haryana and bringing it to the Capital is illegal, even if it is meant for personal consumption

At the same time, the excise department had also seized 1,092 bottles of liquor – both foreign and Indian made, through its checks.

"Getting liquor from Haryana to Delhi is absolutely illegal, even if it is meant for personal consumption. People resort to buying alcohol from Gurgaon especially because the excise duty is much lower than Delhi. But if anybody is caught, they are arrested straightaway," said a senior excise department official.

While surprise checks are based on intelligence tip-offs, officials also stated that a majority of the inflow of liquor from Gurgaon into Delhi was also taking place to fuel black marketing.

Indian-made foreign liquor is seized less often than foreign manufactured, more expensive brands, an official said, adding that expensive wines, vodka and imported single malts were intercepted most often.

"A particular bottle may cost Rs 60 in Gurgaon and the same may cost Rs 90 in Delhi. So people may buy it from there and sell it in Delhi for `80, thereby making `20 profit. The consumer also gets it cheaper," he added.

At the same time, though checks were more stringent during peak festive seasons, the excise department stated that monitoring had been heightened to crack down on habitual offenders.

"Checks happen throughout the year, but arrests are based on tip-offs from intelligence units. There is a section of habitual offenders who keep on repeating the crime despite being caught," the official stated.